Vote 2017: Former Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule on cusp of winning Tukituki electorate

NZ Herald

23 Sep, 2017 09:38 AM2 mins to read

Just after 10pm Mr Yule called his win in the Tukituki seat with more than 3000 ahead of Labour candidate Anna Lorck with about 90 per cent of votes counted. Surrounded by about 50 supporters, friends and family at their election night venue in an empty shop in Heretaunga Street, Ms Lorck reflected on a hard-fought campaign.

Former Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule is on the cusp of winning the Tukituki electorate- ripping it from longtime Labour campaigner Anna Lorck.

Yule quit the mayoralty earlier this year and announced his bid for the Hawke's Bay electorate, coming into direct competition with Labour's Lorck who was campaigning to take the seat from National incumbent Craig Foss.

Foss announced earlier this year he would not be standing in this year's election, leaving the candidacy open for the first time since 2005.

Yule almost immediately threw his hat in the ring.

He previously said that while others hoped he might become Prime Minister, he had his eye solely on becoming a cabinet minister with a focus on environment portfolios.

He first stood for mayor in 2001 and had been in the role for a decade.

Up until July he was also president of Local Government New Zealand.

Hours after counting began on Saturday night, Yule was in the lead, with 14, 064 votes- 52 per cent of the votes.

Lorck trailed behind with 10,941 votes.

In third place was New Zealand First candidate Joe Kairau with 1371 votes.

In June Lorck attracted complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority after constituents alleged her election billboards were misleading.

Her slogan was "Your local MP- here for you," although she wasn't the local MP.